Review

Hercules Mulligan Rum & Rye

/ / Other Spirits, Review / ,

Hercules Mulligan Rum & Rye
Rum, Rye Whiskey, Ginger & Bitters

43% ABV
$50
Website
Hercules Mulligan Rum and Rye

What the Producer Says

Named for the little known tailor, spy, and hero of the American Revolution, who changed history and secured freedom for all, Hercules Mulligan is based on a unique recipe from the period. It’s what Mulligan, the man, stood for, and it’s what this Rum & Rye blend embodies. A spirit of independence.

Simple in its nature – Rum, Rye Whiskey, Ginger & Bitters – yet utterly complex and delightful, this unique composition tickles the nose and loosens the lips.

WHAT MAKES A HERO?
The Balance
A unique recipe from the era of revolution and self-determination, custom-tailored for the modern independent thinker. Perfectly balanced Caribbean Aged Rum & American Rye Whiskey create an equilibrium of duality – a secret to be (re)discovered.

The Unique Character
The Rum & Rye blend is combined with macerated, fresh organic ginger – not artificial flavors. And it’s the essence of this magical root, that gives the blend a kick and builds its distinctive character.

The Audacity Favored by Fortune
The potion is finished with a dash of bespoke bitters that add that extra flavor. No fakery, only honest-to-God ingredients that capture the essence of a bittersweet life.

SPECS
CATEGORY: Rum & Rye
ORIGIN: The US & the Caribbean
NO. OF SPIRITS IN BLEND: 6
HERO INGREDIENTS: Rum, American Rye Whiskeys, tailor-made bitters, fresh ginger

What Gary Says

Nose:  Freshly cut ginger, menthol shaving lather, bitters.
Palate:  Syrupy mouthfeel with candied ginger, rum and bitters.
Finish:  Moderately long, wet with ginger, pepper and honey.
Comments:  So I got this from Flaviar when my quarterly benefit included a ‘free premium bottle’ but the selection offered didn’t have any whisk(e)y I wanted. I like Rock & Rye, like ginger, so what the hell. Glad it was a throw in. The nose on this reminds me of lathering for a wet shave, then slicing fresh ginger into a glass of Bacardi with bitters. I don’t get any rye (maybe the mint from the rye is that menthol note?) Definitely not the sort of thing I’d sip neat. Been trying to find a cocktail that it works in, as it seems like it would be suited for that – but alas, a mixologist I am not.

Rating: Probably Pass/Average

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Booker’s 2021-02 “Tagalong Batch”

/ / Bourbon, Review / ,

Booker’s “Tagalong Batch” Batch 2021-02
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

6 Years, 5 Months, 0 Days
63.95% ABV
$90
Website
Bookers 2021-02 Tagalong Batch
We would like to thank Beam Suntory and Multiply for sending us a sample to review.

What the Distillery Says:

The second release of the Booker’s® Bourbon 2021 Collection is Booker’s Batch 2021-02 ‘Tagalong Batch.’ This batch celebrates the way my dad, Booker Noe, learned the ropes at the distillery – by ‘tagging along’ with his grandfather and my great grandfather, Jim Beam.

Growing up, the distillery was like Dad’s playground; he loved spending time with his grandfather and everyone else who worked there, asking questions and expanding his knowledge. That’s ultimately how he developed his curiosity and passion for whiskey, and it was how he became such a talented Master Distiller.

The tradition of ‘tagging along’ has continued generation to generation. I learned much of what I know about whiskey by following in Dad’s footsteps, digesting all of the information I could while working side-by-side at the distillery. It’s also a tradition I continued with my son Freddie, and one I hope he’ll share with his children in the future.

Tagging along had some other rewards too, such as heading to the nearby lake to cast a line together after a hard day’s work. We all have fond memories of that quality time, and I hope you enjoy this batch as part of your quality time with family and friends too.
— Fred Noe, Beam Family 7th Generation Master Distiller

TASTING NOTES
Nose: Aromas of vanilla, caramel and “sweet brown” wood sugar flavors
Taste: Unique, yet unmistakably Booker’s® Bourbon
Finish: Pleasant, warm finish, both sweet and spicy

What Gary Says

Nose:  Rich vanilla, caramel, chocolate fudge, oak, peanut brittle, cinnamon, leather, bit of toasted orange zest.
Palate:  Rich mouthfeel with fudge, salted caramel, nutmeg, honey, cinnamon, oak, bit of pepper and subtle fruit notes (maybe baked peaches).
Finish:  Moderately long with fudge, caramel and oak.
Comments:  While I don’t have a lineup of previous batches to compare against, I really like this one. I usually get a some chocolate, but this one is more pronounced with it taking on a more fudgy angle. A bit of water amps the peanut notes, brings out a bit more citrus notes on the palate, and tamps the pepper (which isn’t that sharp). And it continues the streak of “hadn’t met a Booker’s I didn’t like!”.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Bulleit Bourbon Single Barrel

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Bulleit Bourbon Single Barrel
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Hand Selected by Discount Drinks
Barrel# 1-B3-0532

52% ABV
$60
Website
Bulleit Bourbon Single Barrel

What the Producer Says

Nothing unfortunately (not mentioned on their website; and the only other thing on the label of note is that it is non-chill filtered).

What Gary Says

Nose:  Salted caramel, cocoa, baking spices, oak, tobacco and worn leather.
Palate:  Chocolate and caramel with nutty spice, oak, bit of banana-nut bread.
Finish:  Moderately long, damp with dark chocolate, allspice and oak.
Comments:  A solid, spicy bourbon. Many folks (myself included) have thought these were simply Four Roses single barrels with another label, as it is widely known that Four Roses had contract distilled for Diageo. Per Diageo, this isn’t the case. Unfortunately they won’t confirm who did distill the product, which is a shame (at least for those who appreciate transparency). Regardless who distilled it, this is a tasty bourbon – although with a single barrel can be highly variable.

Rating: Stands Out

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Woodinville Straight Bourbon Whiskey

/ / Bourbon, Review / ,

Woodinville Straight Bourbon Whiskey

45% ABV
$40
Website
Woodinville Straight Bourbon Whiskey

What the Distillery Says

This truly small-batch bourbon starts with traditionally grown corn, rye and malted barley. All of our staple grains are cultivated exclusively for us on the Omlin Family farm in Quincy, Washington. The grains are mashed, distilled, and barreled in our Woodinville® distillery, then trucked back over the Cascade Mountains to our private barrel houses, where Central Washington’s extreme temperature cycles promote the extraction of natural flavors from the oak. Prior to being coopered, the barrel wood is seasoned in open air, rain, wind, sun, and snow for eighteen months, softening the wood’s harsh tannins. The barrels are then slowly toasted and heavily charred to further enrich the wood’s desirable flavors. This meticulous process yields a truly hand-crafted spirit with aromas of crème brûlée and spice cabinet, as well as notes of rich caramel, dark chocolate, and vanilla bean on the palate with a sweet, lingering finish.

*Also available in Cask-Strength at distillery only.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Vanilla, light caramel, corn, musty oak, peaches with a hint of cherries and brown sugar.
Palate:  Vanilla ice cream with caramel sauce, light baking spices and black cherries.
Finish:  Moderate in length, slightly dry with a bit of oak, baking spices and cherries.
Comments:  A decent enough pour, although the corn on the nose and lack of depth on the palate would lead me to believe it is young (being non-age stated ‘straight’, this would be four years and a day). The nose is nice, with a bit more to offer than the palate, but appreciate that this doesn’t “taste like craft” to me.

Rating: Average/Stands Out

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Wild Turkey Rare Breed Rye

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey /

Wild Turkey Rare Breed Rye
Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey

56.1% ABV
$60
Website
Wild Turkey Rare Breed Rye Whiskey

What the Distillery Says

Crafted in one of the few distilleries to remain dedicated to the art of rye whiskey, Rare Breed Rye is a blend of non-chill filtered rye. It is barrel-proof, meaning that it’s uncut, bottled directly from the barrels at the proof it is reached in those barrels. It is sister to award-winning Rare Breed bourbon and the first permanent super-premium rye in the Wild Turkey family.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Fresh dill, vanilla, oak, mint, lime zest, herbal, pepper and cinnamon.
Palate:  Vanilla, clove, tangerines, oak, cinnamon, mint, nutmeg and a hint of white chocolate.
Finish:  Moderate in length, drying with pepper, mint and honey.
Comments:  Intense rye spice like you’d hope for/expect from Wild Turkey! The Wild Turkey 101 Rye is one of my favorites, and this turns that up a notch. The non-chill filtering is a plus, as it thickens up nicely with a bit of water. Maintains a nice balance of sweetness with rye spice. I did a couple blind tastings of this against Pikesville (which required the black Glencairns, as this is lighter in color enough that it stood out), and on three different days, I preferred the Pikesville over this – finding this to have less sweetness and more spice. But sometimes that’s what you’re in the mood for – is that hit of rye spice. And it was pretty close on 2 of the 3 tastings as well – highlighting how much WE have to do with it versus the whiskey.

Rating: Stands Out

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